Planet-F1

Q&A with Mark Webber

Thursday 21st August 2008

Red Bull's Mark Webber looks ahead to this weekend's European Grand Prix on the streets of Valencia.

Q: In Monte Carlo - the race you say you had the most fun with - you came fourth, your best result of the season. How similar are the Valencia and Monaco courses? Are you hoping to have fun and get a top result here?
MW: Apart from the fact they're both street circuits, they don't have much else in common. Of course all pukka street circuits are surrounded by lots of unforgiving barriers, so keeping mistakes to a minimum is crucial. New circuits are always fun to learn and I'm sure this one wouldn't be any different.

Q: The second new date in the calendar, Singapore, is also a street race. Are there special capabilities drivers need in races without the run-off safety zones of tradiotional circuits?
MW: I like to see drivers get punished for their mistakes so street circuits without safety zones are great. Keeping the car on the black stuff is important and generally I do a good job of that.

Q: Next year Sebastian Vettel is your new team-mate. What's your impression of him so far?
MW: Sebastian has been with Red Bull for a long time and has been with Toro Rosso for the past two seasons, so I know him and we seem to get along fine. He is very talented and it's great to see Red Bull giving him the chance to move up to Red Bull Racing next year.

Q: The first half of the season went well for you, but the last three (Silverstone, Hockenheim and Hungaroring) didn't go entirely to plan. What has to change for you to score points again?
MW: The team needs to find more performance from the RB4; Toyota and Renault have made some significant gains over the past few races and have been scoring points regularly with both their drivers. We need to do the same if we're to challenge for fourth place in the Constructors Championship.

Q: At the moment you're ninth in the drivers championship, what are your goals for the remaining seven races?
MW: I will do exactly the same as I've done all season; go out and do the best job I can for the team.

Q: A week before Singapore you're taking part in a race at a slightly slower speed: a charity cycling race near London. Do racing driver ever really get rid of wanting to be the first to cross the line in any contest?
MW: I participated in a charity cycle event over the weekend (August 17) but it wasn't a race. We had about 150 riders and it all went very smoothly. I like competing in different events such as cross-country running, du-athlons and mountain bikes races - but it's only for a bit of fun.

Source - Red Bull